When Medication Timing Matters

The Connection Between Medications and Falls

While people fall for a number of different reasons, there are some universally common factors that affect many of those cases, especially in older age adults. These include, but aren’t limited to:

• Primary physical and health-related causes like immobility, cognitive issues, and body limitations
• Environmental hazards like lighting or unexpected obstacles
• Behavioral or psychological factors such as cognitive decline, fear of falling (leading to immobility) and even less obvious things like urinary issues

One additional key factor that effects falling in older age adults is their medication regimen. Medication significantly increases fall risk in older adults through side effects like dizziness, sedation, and lowered blood pressure.

What Type of Medications Are Most Related to Falling?

There are a number of categories of medicines that increase fall risk. While each person’s individual chemistry plays a factor in the potential damage that can be done through the following medication’s, this list can be especially impactful on people who are prone to imbalance:

Sedatives and Hypnotics

These drugs can slow thinking, reaction time, and body control. They can cause morning grogginess, confusion, weak balance, and poor coordination. Nighttime use adds risk during bathroom trips.

Blood Pressure Medications

These drugs can drop blood pressure too far. The person can feel faint after standing, bending, showering, or getting out of bed.

Why Do The Falls Take Place?

When it comes to medication fall risk, there are a number of different factors that can be attributed to accidents that take place. A drop in blood pressure when standing causing fainting is relatively common with blood pressure medication. Ingestion of multiple medications can cause interactions that increase drowsiness in most patients.

Is There A Way to Address This Problem?

While there is no full proof way of avoiding falling from medication use there are some practical steps that can be considered.

1. Medication review and reduction: This includes reviewing all prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs, and supplements. The goal is to find drugs that raise fall risk, stop drugs that are no longer needed, and lower doses where safe.
2. Safer medication selection: This includes switching from higher-risk drugs to safer options. It also includes avoiding drug stacking.
3. Monitoring and follow-up: This includes checking blood pressure, blood sugar, kidney function, liver function, and new symptoms.